First NZ expedition to Everest summit since Hillary died

New Zealand climbers reached the world’s highest peak today to become the first Kiwi expedition to summit Everest since Sir Edmund Hillary died earlier this year.

Hillary was the first person in the world to reached the top of Everest on May 29, 55 years ago.

Among the New Zealanders in the expedition were guides Lydia Bradey and Mike Roberts. Bradey was the first woman in the world in 1988 to climb Everest without oxygen.

The latest New Zealand expedition, run by Wanaka based Adventure Consultants (AC), lifts the number of successful Everest ascents by Kiwi climbers to 54.

Adventure Consultants is run by top NZ expedition leader Guy Cotter who took over the company after the Everest death of Rob Hall, the original founder, in 1996.

Cotter said the expedition was the most unusual season on Mt Everest ever.

``We had Chinese Olympic torch carrying climbers on the summit, Nepalese soldiers with guns at Camp 2 stopping climbers from going high on the mountain for fear of interference, political wrangling in Kathmandu and covert surveillance of the climbing teams.

``Then there was discovery by the military of a ‘Free Tibet’ climbing protester who was ousted from base camp, so this year’s climbers will have more than just climbing tales to regale when it’s all over.’’

Cotter said he was grateful for the continued co-operation with Nepalese authorities. New Zealand has had a close association with Nepal and the Sherpas since Hillary summited in May 1953.

“Given the issues this season has presented us we are really happy to have had our group successfully reach the summit.”

 

Mt Everest summits by Kiwis

1. Ed Hillary 1953 May 29. Sth Col – SE Ridge.
2. Nicholas Banks 1979 October 2. Sth Col – SE Ridge.
3. Lydia Bradey 1988 October 14. Sth Col – SE Ridge. AC
4. Peter Hillary 1990 May 10. Sth Col – SE Ridge. AC
5. Rob Hall 1990 May 10. Sth Col – SE Ridge. AC
6. Gary Ball 1990 May 10. Sth Col – SE Ridge. AC
7. Mike Perry 1991 May 17. Nth Col-N Ridge.
8. Mark Whetu 1991 May 21. Nth Col-N Ridge.
9. Gary Ball (2) 1992 May 12. Sth Col – SE Ridge. AC
10. Rob Hall (2) 1992 May 12. Sth Col – SE Ridge. AC
11. Guy Cotter 1992 May 12. Sth Col – SE Ridge. AC
12. Jan Arnold 1993 May 10. Sth Col – SE Ridge. AC
13. Rob Hall (3) 1993 May 10. Sth Col – SE Ridge. AC
14. Jon Gluckman 1993 May 10. Sth Col – SE Ridge. AC
15. Rob Hall (4) 1994 May 5. Sth Col – SE Ridge. AC
16. Mark Whetu (2) 1994 May 26. Nth Col-N Ridge.
17. Andrew Harris 1996 May 10. Sth Col – SE Ridge. AC
18. Rob Hall (5) 1996 May 10. Sth Col – SE Ridge. AC
19. Guy Cotter (2) 1997 May 23. Sth Col – SE Ridge. AC
20. Russell Brice 1997 May 29. Nth Col-N Ridge.
21. Richard Price 1997 May 29. Nth Col-N Ridge.
22. Russell Brice (2) 1998 May 25. Nth Col-N Ridge.
23. David Hiddleston 2002 May 16, Sth Col – S Ridge. AC
24. Peter Hillary (2) 2002 May 25. Sth Col – SE Ridge.
25. Michael Roberts 2002 May 25. Sth Col – SE Ridge.
26. Mark Whetu (3) 2003
27. Jamie McGuiness 2003 May 31, Nth Col – N Ridge.
28. Clive Jones 2004 May 15. Sth Col – SE ridge.
29. Dean Staples 2004 May 23. Nth Col – N Ridge.
30. Mark Woodward 2004 May 23. Nth Col – N Ridge
31. Derek Chin 2004 May 23. Nth Col – N Ridge
32. Julian Haszard 2004 May 23, Nth Col – N Ridge
33. Dean Staples (2) 2005 June 5, Nth Col – N Ridge
34. Mark Woodward (2) 2005 June 4, Nth Col – N Ridge
35. Mark Ingles 2006 May 15, Nth Col – N Ridge
36. Wayne Alexander 2006 May 15, Nth Col – N Ridge
37. Mark Whetu 2006 May 15 Nth Col – N Ridge
38. Mark Woodward (3) 2006 May 15 Nth Col – N Ridge
39. Guy Cotter (3) 2006 May 19, Sth Col – SE ridge. AC
40. Dean Staples (3) 2006 May 19, Sth Col – SE ridge. AC
41. Steven Harvey 2006 May 19, Sth Col – SE ridge. AC
42. Steve Moffat 2006 May 24, Sth Col – SE ridge. AC
43. Penny Goddard 2007 May 16, Nth Col – N Ridge
44. Michael Roberts (2) 2007 May 20, Sth Col – SE ridge AC
45. Dean Staples (4) 2007 May 21, Nth Col – N Ridge
46. Mark Woodward (4) 2007 May 21, Nth Col – N Ridge
47. Mark Sedon 2007 May 21, Sth Col – SE ridge AC
48. Guy Cotter (4) 2007 May 21, Sth Col – SE ridge AC
49. Mark Whetu (5) 2007 May 22 Nth Col – N Ridge
50. Mike Allsop 2007 May 24, Sth Col – SE ridge
51. Mark Woodward (5) 2007 June 14, Nth Col – N Ridge
52. Dean Staples (5) 2007 June 14, Nth Col – N Ridge
53. Mike Roberts (3) 2008 May 24, Nth Col – N Ridge
54. Lydia Bradey (2) 2008 May 24, North Col – N Ridge

 

54 ascents by 29 New Zealanders

22 of the ascents on AC expeditions

Overall, AC has had 129 ascents. See http://www.adventureconsultants.co.nz/AdventureInternational/Everestsummitlist/